Charge Being Discontinued

[bgkage]

Discovered that the Charge is being discontinued.

http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/Is-Alta-replacing-Charge/?q=alta+charge&l=en_US&f...

That concerns me being that I just bought one a couple of weeks ago. I've already had trouble and they are sending me a new one. Don't disappoint me, FitBit!

[mistycanning]

I just called yesterday because my Charge stopped charging. After troubleshooting, they decided that my Fitbit was indeed a dud and needs to be replaced. At first they offered me the Alta which upset me because I was never interested in a smaller band and I felt that, after only having my Fitbit for 8 months, I was being offered a lesser product. I also was upset about the smaller display. I asked about getting the HR and just paying the difference but was refused. I was then told that I would get a %25 discount off a new Fitbit of my choice. Hardly a good deal considering that in Nova Scotia we pay %15 in taxes alone. So I told him that I guess I'd have to accept the Alta. He came back and told me that after further investigation he was indeed able to offer me a COMPLIMENTARY Fitbit Charge HR! So at the end of my session I was and still am extremely pleased with the customer service I received through Fitbit.

[Lua2016]

Do worry.  The alta does not have the same finction as the charge.  It does not allow your own tracking of exercise.  It only automatically detects exercise, and it does not work very well.

Well, I hope I get a similar deal because I agree with both of you.  The alta is not an equivalent replacement for the charge.  It is a lesser product.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[mistycanning]

I never had to get angry, I was just very disappointed and expressed that. In the end, I left a very happy customer. Good luck to you

[MMMS]

Yes!!  Both those things happened to me too!  My Charge completely fell apart a few days ago and I was told that since I am over my one year warranty, all they can do is give me a 25% discount towards a new product.  But I am reluctant to buy another Fitbit, since the two I've had previously didn't hold up.  And it's not like I'm running marathons everyday!

[MarlenS]

Hey everyone, thank you for taking a break from stepping to be here! 

As many of you have mentioned, we are discontinuing the Fitbit Charge from the market, however our current Charge users are still covered by the warranty (if applicable). Since we are now out of stock to replace the Fitbit Charge with the same model, we are offering the Fitbit Alta instead. This is consider as an upgrade since the new Fitbit Alta has a lot more features than the Charge, it also have interchangeable band and you can purchase the most fabulous accessories for it. You can find all the information about this Fitbit in the Alta User Manual.

The Charge users that were offered a 25% discount because they're out of warranty, you can read the Returns and Warranty policy so you can have a better understanding of the response offered by our Support Team.

I hope this answer your inquiries and I'll be around if you need anything else. 

[Nosleeptil]

I am looking to find chargers for this device and haven't been able to find out where to get one. Any ideas??

[SunsetRunner]

I purchased four Fitbit Charges in the last year, one for me and three gifts. I shudder to think what has happened to the three gifts. I expect they disintegrated just like mine has done. I'm guessing they just threw them in the garbage, which was my first impulse. I mean the Charge only cost $100, just how long should it last.... maybe a year???  My husband checked your website and learned that the Charge is "covered" by a 1 year warranty.  Your warranty does not offer replacing the Charge with  another device; nor does it state that I should "consider" replacing the Charge with Alta an "upgrade".  So, Erik on your support team made me your same "great" offer: replace the Charge with an Alta or get 25% off one of your other pieces of junk (I'm assuming all your products are junk because you won't stand behind this one).  I want my money back.    

[MarlenS]

Welcome @Nosleeptil and @SunsetRunner, it's great to have you in the Community. 

@Nosleeptil You can purchase the charging cable for the Fitbit Charge in our Fitbit Store. Or you can check with our authorized retailers if they have available.

@SunsetRunner Sorry to read that your Fitbit fall apart. If you want a refund for your Charge you can get in touch with our Support Team so they can give you all the information you need about this process. As a friendly reminder, we only refund the products purchased through Fitbit.com in the first 45 days from the date of purchase. If you purchased it with a retailer, I suggest going back with them to make this process.

I'll be around if you have questions.

[Scott2020]

Hi there I have just purchased a charge hr and now I'm hearing about all these issues of them falling apart or batteries failing within a few months and I am concerned that I have just thrown money away.can you give me some information on these issues please and inform me if I need to return it to Fitbit.

[MarlenS]

Hello @Scott2020, what a great day to step into the community! I'd like to mention that if you follow properly the information from the User Manual, the tips to have a good battery life and the wear and care instructions, the issues can be prevented. If at some point you have any problem with this product you can always contact our Support Team so they can check your warranty options and help you out! 

If you want to return the Fitbit to get a refund, please contact the retailer where you purchased it to check what options they have.

I'll be around if you have questions. 

[rurob]

Hi Scott2020, to be honest with you if it is the Charge that you want then
return the one you have and if possible purchase the Charge 2. Yes you have
these "warranty options" however, once your warranty is up you are stuck
with a product that cannot be fixed. If you have the Charge 2 if the band
breaks at least you can replace the band. This is not the case with the
Charge. You would be stuck with a product that you spent all this money for
and at the end of the day feeling like you have no other option but to
purchase a brand new device with a discount offer from Fitbit. This was my
scenario. I ultimately went with the Alta because I knew if there were band
issues it could be replaced. I was not fully aware of the Charge 2 until
after my purchase but may have possibly chosen this one. Good Luck!

[blackwolf]

So if a customer bought the Charge 1 specifically because of the steps function, why isnt the Charge 2 offered as a replacement?! Shouldnt paying customer get what they paid for. Especially when The first unit lasted less than 5 months before falling apart!

My story started off like yours except Charge 1 started to fall apart in about 4 and a half months with a replacement  of the Alta at no charge or Charge 1 but they didnt have the right size and color available! I too live in NS! So the the Alta arrived and after a couple of hours with Tech support the deemed it deffective! it wouldnt turn on/charge! Not a happy customer! 

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Scott2020]

I feel exactly the same I have stage 3 copd and monitor my steps and heart rate which the charge hr and have found that after only a month or so the battery life on my charge hr is terrible I have followed all fitbits recommendations on how to extend battery life and am concerned that in a few months it won't hold charge and I feel that replacing it with a lower model or one without the same options is very unfair I have just purchased charge hr,s for my wife and daughter and they are experiencing the same issues.It should be a like for like exchange and not a downgrade, fitbits are one of the most expensive trackers on the Market and to offer a lesser model when so much has been paid for a product is unfair I feel the cost of production on fitbits is tiny in respect to the sale price and as a consumer with serious health issues I purchased the fitbits specifically as was informed they were of a high quality and unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case.

[blackwolf]

Hi there! I have many concerns! So frustrated right now I'm not even sure where to start!

[Julia_G]

Hi, @blackwolf, the closest Fitbit to the Charge is the Alta, both in price and in features.  All Fitbits count steps!  The Alta does not count "floors" (i.e. does not have an altimeter), but it has instead a number of features that the Charge did not have: text message notification and auto detection of exercises being two of the most popular.

The Charge 2 replaces the Charge HR, which was a higher spec device than the Charge.

[rurob]

Blackwolf,
At the time that my fitbit had broken and I was looking for resolve the
Fibit Charge 2 had not been introduced yet although it did come out 1 1/2
to 2 months later. I was told that it was no longer under warranty in my
case. As time has gone forth I feel that the charge 2 was created because
Fitbit had numerous complaints or knowledge of the band issue and therefore
designed the Charge 2. It bothers me when I go in stores and see that many
are still charging a ridiculous price for a device that will ultimately
defunct/come apart. I feel as if these should have been pulled from the
shelves by Fibit when it was realized how many complaints/issues that were
arising with the band issue. This is just my opinion.

[blackwolf]

yes right! Floors counted is what I meant to say!

[blackwolf]

I totally agree! Both of my units by the way arrived with no charger in the box! The first one I bought through Ebay but it was a factory sealed box! The supplier sent me a charger! The Defective Alta that wouldnt come on or charge didtn come with the a charger either! Fortunatley the charger from the Charge 1 fit! Issue on Issue! So angry over this! there are other issues too! Do I ever regret buying one!

[Scott2020]

I agree that the Fitbit charge and hr had known issues as when you go to Fitbit to look up information on the charge or hr there isn't even a selection for it anymore I still see the charge hr being sold in shops for £120 as in uk and knowing what I know I feel the charge and charge hr should've been withdrawn instead of continuing to sell the products.I wasn't aware of any of the charge or charge hr issues which are obvious as the replacement items sent directly from Fitbit are regularly being sold on e bay and amazon so why would someone go through the trouble of having something replaced by Fitbit to then sell it it seems that they know that the items are inherently faulty and don't want to use them.To sum up the charge 2 I feel is definitely a redesign they've done away with the rubber strap on charge and hr which I've heard constantly fails and replaced it with a standard watch strap fitting so that it can be replaced rather than the whole device being discarded it has a better battery life so I'm told and the rounder edges of the screen on the charge 2 prevents the catching or chipping of the screen which I've heard is also an issue with the charge and hr models.The charge 2 is also larger to accommodate a larger more reliable battery.

Sent from my iPhone

[Scott2020]

I bought all three from e bay in sealed Fitbit bags with no charging cable or dongle and took this to mean that this was a brand new unused product I have now found out that under the Fitbit exchange programme Fitbit can reissue new or refurbished products so we don't even know if the item was actually new or refurbished I have kept the information for all purchases and have been told by the seller he purchased them 5 months ago and had them exchanged by Fitbit so I take that to mean there's 7 months warranty on them and my fear is that they pack in completely and I'm left with nothing.